Vending machine



May 12, 1931.

H. S. BENJAMIN VENDING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l a. H W I NQ 1 y 1931. H. s. BENJAMIN 1,304,492

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 31- H. s. BENJAMlN 1,804,492

' VENDING MACHINE" Filed May 11, 1928 6 Sheds-Sheet 3 May 12, 1931.

H. s. BENJAMIN 1,804,492

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ammm y 1931- H. s. BENJAMIN 1,804,492

VENDING MACHINE? Filed May 11, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nvemtoz jriy attozmu d May 12, 3 H. s. BENJAMIN VENDING MACHINE Filed May 11,

1928 6 Sheets-Sheet All 5 noenfoz 15 further,

45 of Fig. 7;

t Patented May 12,1931

UN 1 TE 'to a machine for more particularly hines wherein the s controlled by the This invention relates vending merchandise and to that class of such mac operation of the machine i insertion of a coin.

An object of the prevent the operation of the machine by the insertion of a spurious coin or other device simulating a coin, and to guard against nondelivery of merchandis operation of the machine and to the operator of coins inser object is to increase th chine and i conse uent loss ted.

nsure continued delivery, and to provide compact and efficient mechanism together with certain other new and useful features, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

With theahove invention consists set forth and mor in the appended cla and other ends in view, the in the matters hereinafter e particularly pointed out ims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a machine illustrative of an embodi ment of the invention and showing the mechanism in elevation with portions broken away and in section; 1

Fig. 2 is a detail of the unlatching portion 3 of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail substantially upon the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

ig. 4 is a similar sectional detail upon the line 4 l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine substantially upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizon upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is an enlarge stantially upon the line 77 of showing intermediate portions hr to shorten the figure;

Fig. 8 is a sectional tal section substantially Fig. 5;

d sectional detail sub- Fig. 1 and oken away detail on the line 8-8 Fig. 9 is a sectional upon the line 99 of Fi Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail substantially upon the line 10-10 of Fig. 1 with parts broken away and in elevation;

detail substantially present invention is to e due to uncompleted.

further e capacity of the ma- STATES PATENT OFFICE or nnrnoxr, MICHIGAN MACHINE 1928. Serial No. 276,829.

Fig. 11 is line 11-11 of Fig. 12 is an e the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 and 13-13 of Fig. 10

Fig. 14.- is a section reverse side of Fig. 13;

' sectional detail si parts in a difl'ere heir operation;

is a detail of a cam parts for operating a spurious Fig. 17 is an enlar upon the li Fig. 15 is a 13 with the illustrate .t

Fig. 16

stantially Fig. 18 is a pe mechanism and chute;

Fig. 19 is an section substanti Fi 1; and

ig. 20 is a tra 20-20 of Fig. 1

a transverse section Fig. 10; p nlarged sectional detail upon ofFi Fig. 13 is a sectional d etail similar to that substantially upon the line 3 al View showing the nt position to and adjacent coin scraper ged sectional detail subne l717 of Fig. 1; rspective detail of COlIl stop adjacent parts of a coin arged detail showing a upon the line 19-19 of enl ally nsverse section upon the line This machine comprises any suitable form of casin nism and merch chandise bei rectangular tion within a se 3 of any suitable packages in vertical columns g each column to slide freely erein as the packages are reretaining these and permittin downward th moved, one at a each column members or blo bers being loca umn and each f recesses 5 each 0 a single package opposite sides of cylindrical form a side wall of downwardly and the curvature of the block, thus f0 hold within the r age removed fro umn when said g 1 for enclosin andise to be sold, said merng shown as in the form of small packages 2 in superposed relag the vending mecharies of chutes or magazines form and construction for time from the lower end of by means of rotatable feed milar to Fig. I

upon the ks 4, one of said feed memted directly beneath each colormed with two notches or f a shape and size to receive and located in diametrically the feed block which is of s clearly shown in Fig. 9.

each magazine is extended curved as at 6 to conform to the cylindrical surface of rming a guide or shield to ecess in the block,the packm the lower end of the colblock is rotalted,said shield 10 which shaft front wall of the casing, so

bore in the other three blocks which are secured directly to the shaft by means of set screws, the first two rectly to the sleeve 9 by set screws. The first two blocks controlling the delivery from the first two magazines are therefore turned by means of the sleeve 9 and the other blocks for the other magazines are turned by means of the shaft 10.

The two blocks are secured to the tube 9 in such relation that when the recesses in one block are at the top and bottom sides thereof, the recesses of the other block are at the front and rear sides, and therefore at each quarter rotation of the sleeve, a package is discharged.

The other three blocks controlling the delivery from the other three magazines are secured to the shaft 10 at a relative angle of sixty degrees and the shaft is turned one sixth of a revolution with a step by step movement, by means of a ratchet wheel 11 on the projecting end of the shaft as shown in Fig. 8, so that a package will be discharged from some one of the three magazines upon each actuation of the shaft.

1 The sleeve 9 is rotated through an angle of ninety degrees independently of the shaft 10 by means of a ratchet wheel 12 on the projecting end of the sleeve, thus rotating the blocks secured thereto to discharge a package from either one or the other of the two magazines controlled thereby, at each actuation of said sleeve.

Mounted upon the shaft 10 adjacent the ratchet 11 and free to turn thereon, is an arm 13 and pivoted to the free end of this arm, is a pawl 1% adapted to engage and turn the ratchet 11, and a gravity dog 15 pivoted adjacent the ratchet prevents retrograde turning movement of the ratchet. A like arm, pawl and dog are also provided adjacent the ratchet 12 for turning the same and preventing backward turning movement thereof.

Pivotally attached to the outer or swinging end of each arm 13, is abar 16 having a laterally extending arm 17 near its upper end provided with a slot 18 to receive a pivot pin 19 for connecting the bar to the end of the arm 13 so that upon downward movement of either bar 16, the arm 13 to which it is connected, will be swung and upon upward movement of the bar, will rotate the blocks being secured dishaft 10 or sleeve 9, de ending upon which her is actuated. This dbwnward movement of one of the bars 16 and'swinging movement of the attached arm 13, brings the pawl 14 into engagement with another notch of the ratchet 11 or 12, and upon upward movement of the bar, power will be applied to turn the ratchet and shaft or sleeve to which it is attached, thus rotating the feed blocks attached thereto through either sixty or ninety degrees depending upon which ratchet is turned, and deliver a single package from one or another of the several magazines.

An operating shaft 20 projects through the front of the casing 1 and is provided on its outer-end with an operating handle 21, and sleeved upon the inner end portion of this shaft 20 to turn thereon independently of the shaft, is a sleeve 22 (Fig. 10)'having keyed thereto, acam member having two external cams 23 and 24 (Figs. 19 and 20) to engage pairs of pins or studs 25 and 26 on laterally extending lower end portions of the bars 16, said end portions of the bars being formed with vertically elongated openings 27 to receive the shaft and sleeve and ermit these bars to move vertically. On eac bar there are two studs, one at each side of the slot 27 in the bar, and normally, the bars are held in raised position by the engagement of the cams 23 and 24 beneath the studs at one side of the slots.

Upon rotation of the sleeve 22 and cam member secured thereto, the bars will descend provided they are not held against such movement by latch mechanism hereinafter described, and will descend by gravity to the full extent of movement permitted by the slots 27, and turn the arms 13 to engage the pawls.14- with the next notch of the ratchets 11 and 12, so that upon further turning of the cam member in the same direction which brings the cams 23 and 24 into engagement with the studs at the other side of the slots 27, the bars will be positively raised by said cams and thus, through the engagement of said pawls with said ratchets, rotate the delivery blocks 4 through the necessary angle todischarge the packages.

To control the operation of the operating bars 4 so that they or either one or the other of the same will be held against movement and thus prevented from operating the particular delivery mechanism operated thereby, the upper end of each bar is formed with a lateral projection or lug 28 to be engaged by a lateral tooth or projection on a latch bar 29, which latch bars are pivotally supported at their lower ends upon a stud 30 passing through an opening therein and through longitudinal slots in said bars. The bars are thus guided at their upper ends in their up and down movements, by the stud 30, and at their lower ends by the shaft 20 and sleeve 22 engaging the slots 27, with the downward slide in raised y with the lugs 28 on said bars latch bars 29 positioned to swin toward and from said bars into and out 0 engagement and to latch said bars in their raised position when so engaged therewith.

To disengage each latch bar 29 and permit each bar 16 to fall, a link 32 is pivotally attachedto the upper end of each latch bar, and

each link is pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the lower end of a lever 33 pivotally supported at 34 intermediate its ends, the upper end of each lever-being connected by a rod or bar 35 to a suitable pawl pivotally supported adjacent the front side of the easing 1 and adjacent slots or openings 36 and 37 therein through which coins may be inserted. a

The and 38 which is adjacent the slot 36 is pivota 1y supported at 39 intermediate its ends with its lower end pivotally connected to the rod 35, and at its upper end, is formed with a sharp laterally projecting tooth or lug 40 to normally engage beneath a slide 41 guided in its vertical movement upon pins or studs passing through vertical slots 42 in said slide. A spring 43 normally holds this portion or flange 44 extending across the lower end of the slot 36 and when this slide is forced downward against the action of said spring, by forcing a-coin into the slot 36 and into engagement with the flange 44 on the slide, the pawl 38 is rocked on its pivot 39 by reason of the rounded lower end of the slide being in. contact with the inclined upper side of the tooth 40, thus exerting a pull upon the rod 35 which will rock the rocker bar or lever 33 and through the connection of its lower end with the latch bar 29, disengage said latch from the bar 16 which is connected through the arm 13 to the sleeve 9 upon which the feed blocks 4 controlling the delivery from the first two magazines, are secured.

The insertion of a coin through the slot 36 thus unlatches the bar 16 so that it may descend and bring the pawl 14 into engagement with an advance notch, ready to turn the sleeve and deliver a package from one of the first two magazines when said bar is raised by the turning of the operating shaft 20.

' The pawl 45 which lies adjacent the slot 37, is pivotally supported at its lower end and jacent said slot 37 is a slide 46 similar to the slide 41 and having a like flange to extend across the lower end of the slot. This slide is guided by slots 42 in the same manner as the slide for the slot'36 and is normally held at the upper end of its movement by a s ring 43. The pawl 45 is formed with a hook 4 extendinglaterally therefrom over the slide to engage over a notched lug 48- on theshde, when said slideis forced downwardly by the insertion of a coin and thus swing said pawl 45 toward the slot as the slide descends,-bringment of the pawl 45 thus the rod 35, rocker 33, and link 32 to release the position with a laterally bent.

ing the rounded lower side'of its lug 48 into engagement with the rounded or curved upper end of the hook 47 This swingin moveoperates t rough latch 29 holding the bar 16 which is connected to the arm 13 on the shaft 10, thus releasing said bar 16 so that it will drop by gravit and carry the pawl 14 into engagement wit the next notch of the ratchet 11 on the shaft 10, so that when said bar is raised by the turning of the cam 24, on the operating shaft 20, a package will be delivered from one of the three magazines controlled by the delivery blocks secured to said shaft 10.

The delivery of merchandise from the first two magazines is therefore controlled by the insertion of a coin in the slot 36, and the dc livery of merchandise from the other three magazines is controlled by the insertion of a coin in'the slot 37.

To prevent the insertion of a coin through the slot 37 immediately after the insertion of acoin through the slot 36, the slide 41 is formed with a notch 49 which is engaged by the tooth 40 on the upper end of the pawl 38, thus holding the slide in the position to which it has been moved, and the lower end of this pawl has a projection 50 which is brought into engagement with a notch on the slide 46. thus locking this slide against being moved by a coin and preventing the insertion of a second coin through the slot 37.

like manner, when the slide 46 is moved downwardly by the insertion of a coin in the slot 37, the pawl 38 is locked against swinging movement by the lug 50 contact ing the side of the slide 46, thus preventing the slide 41 from being moved downward to unblock the slot 36. The slide 46 is also held by the insertion of a coin through the slot 37, by the engagement of the hook 47 over the lug 48 on said slide 46.

he insertion of a coin through either'of the slots 36 or 37 therefore operates to release the latch 29 connected to the pawl opposite the slot throughv which the coin is inserted and the operated slide is locked at the lower end of its movement, thus holding the latch 29 operated thereby, out of engagement t t pp end the rod 35 is connected Ad with its bar until such time as the pawl holding the slide is released by an upward movement of the bar 16 which has just been released, such release of the pawl being effected by means of a dog 51 pivotally attached to each bar 16 at a distance below the pivot 30 of the latch 29, said dog being arranged, to engage a-downward extension of arm 52 on said latch as the bar moves upwardly carrying the dog with it, said dog being so pivoted as to swing freely upward and passithe arm when the bar falls and to be held in a hor1- zontal position in the path of the lower end 16 which controls .of said arm when the bar carrying the dog moves upwar The positive or upward movement of each bar 16 effected by the turning of the cams 23 and 24, thus releases the locked slides and permits them to be returned to normal or inoperative position by their springs 43, but as the delivery of merchandise from the magazines is controlled by this same upward movement of the bars 16, this release of the slide is not effected without a corresponding delivery operation of the delivery mechanism.

To prevent the release of the bars 16 by the insertion of a coin when any one of the magazines, the delivery from which is' controlled by one of said bars, is empty, a weight 53 is placed in each magazine upon the stack of packages therein, and each weight is provided with a stud or finger 54 projecting laterally from the weight through a vertical slot in the rear side of each magazine.

At the rear of the row of magazines is "a pair of bars 55 and 56. the bar 56 being pivoted at one end beyond the three magazines, the delivery from whichis controlled by the three feed blocks 4 secured upon the shaft 16,

and extends past all of the magazines with its upturned free end 57 (Fig. 1) normally maintainedby a light spring 58, in a plane above the horizontal plane of the projecting end of the link 32 which is moved endwise by the insertion of a coin to unlatch the bar the turning of the shaft 10 and operation of the feed blocks in the three magazines.-

v The bar 55 is pivoted in a like manner at line end and xtenrls across the two magazines having feed blocks secured to the sleeve 9 with its free end 59 normally maintained by aspring 60 in a plane above the horizontal plane of the end of the link 32 which is moved endwise by the insertion of a coin, to unlatch the bar 16 controlling the operation of the feed blocks in said pair of magazines.

The wei hts assist in feeding the packages by gravity. downwardly in each magazine and when the last package in any one of the magazines has been ejected, the finger 54 on the weight in that particular magazine comes into contact with either the bar 55 or 56 depending upon whether the empty magazine is one of the pair of magazines or one of the series of three, thus depressing said bar against the action of its spring 58 or and bringing the free end of that bar into alignment with the end of the adjacent link 32, preventing the longitudinal movement of said link and through its connection with one of the pawls 38 or 45, preventing the movement of that pawl and consequently the movement of the slide 41 or 46 associated therewith so that the insertion of a coin through the slot 36 or 37 adjacent that particular slide, is prevented, and loss to the customer of the coin is obviated.

of the bore and said ing lug 68 As previously described,' the operating shaft 20 projects through the forward side of the casing 1 where it is provided with the handle 21 for turning the same, and it hereinafter described,

In'order that this operating shaft 20 may be operatively connected to the sleeve 22 to turn the same, only after a good coin has been inserted through one of the slots 36 or 37, mechanism which is coin controlled, is provided shaft and connected thereto to turn therewith bymeans of a ball 62 (Figs. 10 and 11) within a radial bore in the head to en age a series of pockets 63 ball being forced strongly into one 'of said pockets by means of a coiled spring 64 1nthe bore between a plug 65 in the outer end ball. This strong frictional or ratchet connection of saidhead to said shaft is provided to prevent breakage of the operating mechanism should the shaft be turned further-in either direction than is necessary to operate said mechanism, the resistance to such" further turning offered by the mechanism without breakage, being suflicient to compress the spring 64 and per-, mit the shaft 20 to turn without turning the head 61, but'this yieldable connection ordinarily ofiers suflicient resistance to cause the shaft and head to turn together and operate the delivery mechanism.

- The sleeve for effecting such connection and comprises a circular head 61 mounted on the formedin the'sha said 22 and shaft 20 may turn, one 1 independently ofthe other except when connected'by means operatively positioned between the' head 61 and a similar circular head 67 integral with the sleeve 22 and which heads are. in opposed relation but spaced apart.

On the hub of this head 67, which hub projects toward the head 61, is a radially pro ect-' (Figs. 5., 10 and 14) adaptedtoa foot 69 "on a dog 7 0 which screw 71 to the side face of'the head 61. "This dog 70 is con be engaged by is pivotally attached by a trolled in its operation to connect said operi ating shaft with said sleeve, by means of a lever 72 pivotally supported at. 73 interme-- diate its ends andprovided with a laterally projecting pin 74- at its lower endtoengage a concentric groove of the head67 and to be deflected by a swinging movement of said lever, into a peripheral groove or cut-away portion 76 in said head,

75 (Fig. 5) in the side face said lever being also provided adjacent its lower end with a pin 77 extending laterally therefrom (Figs. 5 and 10.) and moved by the outward swinging movement of said lever, into the said dog 70. I

When the pin 74 followsinits inner'path or groove 75, the pin 77 is held'out'ofthe path of the head 78 and said dog 70 remains in position with itsfoot 69 engaged'withthe lug 68 and the operating shaft and sleeve are caused to turn inunison, through a sufficient degree of rotation to elfect'the delivery of merchandise or reaches the end of the ing further rotation direction, and just prior to ing such limit of its tion 79 on the dog 70 comes into contact'with the pin 77 on the lever 72, and said dog is thrown out of engagement with the lug-'68, thus disconnecting the operating shaft 20 from the sleeve 22 and permitting said sleeve to be at once rotated in a reverse direction by a coiled spring 80 made fast a-tone'end within patch of a lugor head 78 on slot 75,'thus prevent said sleeve reach- 4 a peripheral groovein the 'head67 and suithead 67 and ably anchored at its opposite'endafter passing partially around the head, said spring eing arranged to be put under tension when the head and sleeve are turned by the engagement of the dog with the lug 68 and the turning of the operating shaft by means of I the operating bars 16 has begun, a portion of its handle 21.

In a like manner, the operating shaft is turned to normal position after its release by the operator, by means of a coiled spring 81 secured at one end within a peripheral groove in the head 61, passed partially around said head and anchored'to a suitable support at its opposite end.

A spring 82 (Fig. 5 and 17") is-connected to the lower end portion of the lever or rocker-arm 72 and exerts a force normally tending to swing said lever outwardly of said thus cause the stud 74 to leave the groove 75 and enter the peripheral. roove 76 of said head when said head is turne from its normal position (Fig. 5')- and when the upper end of said arm 7 2 is free to swing. If, however, said upper end of said arm is "prevented from swinging by means hereinafter described, the stud 74 will follow the inner groove 75 of the head and the pin 77 will be held out of the path of the head 78 on the dog 70 and said dog will function to transmit motion from the head 61 on the operating shaft 20 to the head 67 on the sleeve 22 until the dog has been carried around far enough by the turningof the head 61 to bring the tail 7 9 of the doginto engagement with said pin 77, whereupon the heads will be disconnected and the sleeve and head 67 will be returned to normal position by the spring 80. The throw or degree of turning movement of the head 67 in each direction, is limited by the length of the groove 75 and when the rocker 7 2 is swun so that said stud 7 4 passes into the groove %6, the degree of turning movement of the head is limited by the length until the said pin '74 of the sleeve in that rotation, a tail projecage from one of the the normal of this groove'which is considerably shorter than thegroove 75, thus preventing the head and sleeve from beingturned far'enough to bring the earns 23 and 24 (Fig. '19.) into positionto raise the bars 16, and thus operatethe merchandise delivery mechanism.

Therefore, the swinging of the rocker 72 governsthe operation of this delivery mech- 'mitting of such swingingmovement.

Should the operator coin, grasp and turn but a portion of the complete the operation and deliver a after inserting a'good the handle 21 through movement required to packnothing for his. coin permitted to be returned to normal position movement after the been started, that is, after-the upstroke of the periphery of the head 61 is formed with a series of notchesor ratchet teeth 83 to be engaged by the tail portion 84 ofa. dog 85 pivoted at 86 intermediate its ends upon a suitable support adjacent the periphery of the head 61, said tail being also adapted to engage a tooth or projection 87 on said head to limit the retrograde movement of said head-and shaft. when the handle 21 is released and hold said head in the normal position shownin Figs. 13 and 14. Theend '88 of the dog 85 opposite the end 84, is adapted to engage a tooth or projection 89011 the head 61 when said head has reached the limit of its forward turning movement or when said head has reached such a position that the dog 70 is'j ust brought into engagement with the pin 77 to disengage said dog from the head 61 from the lug68 and disconnect the head 67 at the end of the merchandise delivery operation.

In-order to insure the engagement of the tail "8 10f the dog 85 with the teeth 83 when the head 61 is rotated'by thehandle 21 in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 13 and 14, in operation of the machine when a good coin has been inserted, a. latch member or dog 90 is pivotally supported intermediate its'ends adjacent the pivot for the dog 85 and has a laterally extending portion 91 at its upper end to engage over av laterally extending lug 92 on the dog, said latch and dog being urged toward each other by a coiled spring 93 connecting upper end portions of said latch and dog, andthus the dog is latched down by the latch with its tail 84 in position magazines, and should he then release'the handle, he would receive provided the parts were to engage the notches 83 after a certain degree I of turnin movement of the head, and prevent backwar turning of the head-by the action of thespring 81.

On the head 61 adjacent the stop or lug 87 thereon, is a laterally projecting pin 94 adapted to engage the downwardly projecting end 95 of the latch 90 just as the end 84 of the dog engages the stop when the handle 21 is released and the head is turned backward to normal or inoperative position by the spring 81, and thus the latch is swung on its pivot and causedto engage over the lug 92 on the dog 85. 'When the end 88 of the dog 85 engages the projection 89 on the head 61 at the end of the forward rotative movement of the head, at which point the head is released by the tail 79 of with the pin 77 at the end of the delivery operation, said dog 85 is turned on its pivot by such engagement with said projection 89, from beneath the latch and the lug 92 is engaged within a notch 96 in the lateral end portion of the latch to hold said dog 85 tilted with its end 84 out of the path of the teeth 83 during the backward turning of the head 61 to normal position.

To control the swinging movement of the upper end of the rocker arm 72 so that when a good coin is inserted in the machine, said arm will be prevented from swinging and W111 be permitted to swin when no coin or a slug is inserted, and thus through causing the stud or roller 7 4 to travel in either the groove 75 or the groove 76, control the operation of the machine, as previously described, the followin described mechanism is provided ading from the coin slots 36 and 37 in the front of the casing 1, is a coin chute 97, a rearwardly extending portion of which chute is formed in one wall thereof with a lateral opening 98 so arranged that should a coin of less diameter than that of a coin adapted to operate the machine, be inserted, said small coin will fall out laterally of the chute through this opening and the machine will fail to operate to deliver a package of merchandise, due to thelack of a coin passing down the entire length of the chute. Should a metal slug be inserted, such slug will be attracted to a magnet 99 supported adjacent the chute Withits ends projecting therein and theslug will be held by this magnet until removed by a sweep 100 positioned within the chute and normally supported upon a pivoted arm .101 above the horizontal plane of the slug held by the magnet, as shown in Fig. 1. This arm 101 is actuated by a rod 102 pivotal- 1 connected thereto at its upper end to swing the arm downwardly and cause the sweep 100 to come into engagement withand sweep the slug from the magnet, permitting it to pass on down the chute after being so delayed. The rod 102 is pulled downwardly to swing the arm 101, by means of a cam 103 (Fig.16)

the dog coming into contact .of a slug, the sweep 100 is operated to remove .the slug caught by the magnet 99 and permit it to drop down the chute, deflecting means being provided to deflect said slug from said chute before it reaches the lower end portion of the chute, said deflecting mechanism comprising a deflecting arm 109 (Fig. 1) pivotally supported at its upper end adjacent the edge of the chute and provided with a curved foot or deflector 110 on its lower end adapted to be projected through an opening in the chute when said arm is swung on its pivot by the descent of the rod 102 which is provided with a pin 111 to engage within an elongated notch in the side of said arm and positively swing said arm toward the chute when the rod descends and away from said chute to withdraw its deflecting foot from the chute when said rod is raised. \Vhen the deflector foot is in the path of a slug descending in the chute, said slug will be deflected thereby into a branch chute 112 which leads into the delivery cup 8 (Fig. 5) and thus such a slug will be returned to the operator without functioning to prevent the swinging movement of the rocker arm 72 and to cause the merchandise deliverymechanism to function.

Before a slug or coin passing down the chute 97 reaches the deflector 110, it comes into contact with a pivotal finger 113 (Fig. 17) projecting into the chute across the path of the slug or coin so that said finger will be turned on its pivot against the action of a very light spring 114 by the weight of said slug or coin falling thereon. A connecting rod 115 is pivotally connected to said finger laterally of the finger pivot and at its lower end is pivotally attached to a latch bar .116 at one end of said bar, said bar being pivotally supported at its opposite end toswing alongside the chute 97 adjacent an opening in one side of the chute through which opening the laterally bent end 117 of a plate 118 is adapted to be projected across the chute by the turning of said plate upon its pivotal support 119.

A spring 120 normally exerts a force to turn said stop plate 118 on its pivot and project its laterally bent end 117 through the opening in the chute. across the path of a coin falling down said chute (Figs. 1718), and

spring 120 with its stop portion or bent end 117 retracted from the chute, 116 is formed with a shoulder to engage a laterally projecting lug 121 on the plate. Therefore when the finger 113 is turned by a coin falling thereon, 'the latch bar 116 is swung downwardly by means of the connect ing rod 115 and the bar is unlatched from the plate" 118, allowing said plate to be quickly swung toward the chute by its spring 120 and projecting the stop 117 across the path of the coin so that its further downward movement in the chute is blocked and said coin is supported therein opposite an opening 122 in one side of the chute.

If the piece inserted be a slug, it will be held by the magnet sufficiently long to permit the deflector 110 to be projected across the chute in time to deflect the slug and whether it be a slug or a coin, the same will strike the finger 113 and release the stop 117 to time to block the passage of the coin or slug from the chute and, therefore, should a slug having a central hole therein, such as a washer, be inserted and not be caught by the magnet, said slug washer will be blocked and held by the stop 117 with the hole in the washer opposite the opening 122 in the chute.

To control the swinging movement of. the rocker arm 72 for the purpose previously set forth, a plunger 123 is guided. in a horizontal plane for longitudinal movement, within a suitable bearing support 124, and this plunger has a reduced and sharpened end pro .jection 1'25 adapted to be projected through the opening 122 in the coin chute when said plunger is moved longitudinally. The opposite end of this plunger is pivotally connected to the upper end of the rocker arm 72 by a transverse pin 126 passing through a longitudinal slot in the arm, and said plunger comprises two hollow telescopic parts with a coiled spring 127 therein interposed between said parts to provide a slight longitudinal yielding action.

When a good coin is inserted, the stop plate 118 is released by the impact of the coin against the finger 113 and the stop 117 is projected across the chute before the coin reaches that point. Said coin is therefore stopped in its movement down the chute and held in position opposite the opening 122 so that when the head 67 is rotated and the spring 82 tends to swing the rocker arm 72, such swinging movement will be prevented by the end of the plunger 123. coming into contact with the coin which is held opposite the opening through which the end of the plunger is adapted to be pro ected, and further turning of the head will bring the stud 74 into the inner groove, permitting continued rotation of the head and through such rotation, the operation of the merchandise delivery mechanism. This continued rotation of the head GT and corresponding rota tion of the head 61, brings a flange 128 on a form of a common washer.

said latch bar semi-circular member 129 which is secured to the head 61 and passes over the edge of the head 67, into engagement with a cam arm 130 extending downwardly from and rigidly con nected to the lower end of the plate 118. Therefore, rotation of the head 61 by means of the handle 21 brings the semi-circular flange 128 into engagement with the cam arm 130, swinging said arm and also the plate 118 against the action of the spring 120 and withdrawing the stop 117 from the chute, thus permitting the coin supported thereby to pass on down the chute, completing the full operation of the machine.

Should this coin or device which is stopped opposite the opening 122 have a central hole in it, such a coin or device will allow the. sharpened end 125 of the plunger 123 to pass therethrough, and thus by the longitudinal movement of said plunger, permit the rocker arm 7 2 to swing, bringing its stud 74 into the outer path 76 of the head 67 and eli'ecting adisconnection between said head (37 and the head 61 before the delivery mechanism has been actuated to deliver a package, as previously described.

\Vith this arrangement, the insertion of a coin in the machine first serves to unlock the merchandise delivery mechanism so that it may be operated through the medium of the operating handle, otherwise the entire mechanism is inoperative, and the turning of the handle accomplishes nothing. This coin if it be a good coin then serves to control the operation of the mechanism for transmitting motion from said handle to the delivery mechanism, but if it be a slug, or the like, this substitute for a coin will either be ejected before it reaches and operates to control the operation of the mechanism for transmitting motion to the delivery mechanism, or will fail to so function due to its being in the Loss to the operator of coins inserted by mistake and breakage of the mechanism is also obviated by the construction. Control of the delivery of merchandise is effected through the control of the single rocker arm 72 by means of the coin'or substitute therefor, thus simplifying the construction and providing a compact mechanism which may be housed within a comparatively small space.

Obviously changes maybe made in the con struction and arrangement of parts, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the particular construction shown.

What I claim is 1. In a vending machine, the combination of a rotary member, a manually operated operatingmember rotatable independently of said rotary member, means for connecting and disconnecting said members, a lever for controlling the operation of said connecting means and provided with means for engaging one of said members, said member being formed with two paths of travel for said means, and means whereby the path of travel taken by said means is determined by the insertion of a coin.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a rotary head, a rotary manually operated member having a head, said heads being an opposed relation and independently rotatable and one of said heads being formed with connected paths, a member for operatively connecting said heads, a lever for operating said connecting member, means on said lever to travel along one of said paths, and coin controlled means for determining the position of said lever to cause said lever to follow one or the other of said paths, said lever bein adapted to operate said connecting mom or to dis-connect said heads when said lever is'caused to follow one of said paths.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a rotary member, a manually operated operating member in opposed relation to said rotary member, a connecting member for transmitting motion from said operating member to saidrotary member, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends with one end positioned to operate said connecting member, a plunger connected to the opposite end of said lever, and means for positioning a coin in the path of said plunger to restrict the movement thereof and control the operation of the connecting member.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of a rotary head, a manually rotated operating member having a head in opposed relation to said rotary head, one of said heads being formed to provide connected travel paths, a lever between said heads having a stud to engage in one or the other of said paths, a connecting member for transmitting motion from one to the other of said heads, means on said lever to engage and operate said connecting member when said stud is traveling in one of said paths, and means, controlled in its operation by the insertion of a coin, for controlling the operation of said lever and determinin which path of travel said stud thereon s all follow.

5. In a vending machine as characterized in claim 4 and whereinsprings are arranged to be put under tension when said heads are rotated in one direction by said operating member and serve to rotate said heads in an opposite direction when said heads are disconnected and said operating member is released. I

6. In a vending machine as characterized in claim 4: and including a spring for rotating said operating member in a direction reverse to that in which it is turned to operate said rotary head, and means for preventin such reverse turning of said operating memher by controlling said connecting member, a coin stop member positioned to support a coin with said coin positioned to limit movement of said lever, and a member rotatable with said operating member for operating said coin stop member.

8. In a vending machine as characterized in claim 7 and wherein a longitudinally reciprocable member is connected to said lever and positioned to engage a coin and limit the movement of said lever and said coin stop member is moved into and out of coin supporting position by a cam lever on said member, said cam lever being engaged and operated by said member rotatable with said operating member.

9. In a vending machine, the combination of a rotary member, a manually operated rotatable operating member in opposed relation to said rotary member, a connecting member for transmitting motion from said operating member to said rotary member, a lever for controlling said connecting member, a longitudinally reciprocable plunger connected to said lever, a coin stop member pivotally supported for projection into the path of a coin to support said coin in the path of movement of said plunger, latch mechanism for holding said stop'member, a spring for moving said stop member when released by said latch, a trip member adapted to be engaged by a coin to trip the same and release said latch, and a cam member for moving said stop member a ainst the action of said spring, said cam member being operated by rotation of said manually rotated operating member.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY S. BENJAMIN. 

